Fight a Boston parking ticket when you already paid
You paid for parking — via a muni-meter receipt, Pay-by-Plate, or the ParkBoston app — for the ticketed time and location, but were ticketed anyway (e.g. for "Meter Fee Unpaid," "Over Meter Limit," or "Not in Metered Space").
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: City of Boston Office of the Parking Clerk Re: Ticket No. [TICKET NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am disputing this ticket and, if necessary, requesting a hearing before the Office of the Parking Clerk. I respectfully request that it be dismissed. On [DATE], I paid for parking at [LOCATION] via [PAYMENT METHOD — muni-meter receipt / Pay-by-Plate / ParkBoston app], as shown by the attached receipt or transaction record covering [PAYMENT TIME] through [EXPIRATION TIME]. That window covers the time this ticket cites, [VIOLATION TIME]. [IF PAY-BY-PLATE: The plate number used for payment, [PLATE], matches the plate on this vehicle and this ticket.] City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Art. IV §§4–5 set the payment and receipt-display requirements for single-space and multi-space meters. I met those requirements at the cited time and location, and I ask that this ticket be dismissed on that basis. Attached: [payment receipt or ParkBoston app transaction/session record showing the date, time, and location matching the ticket; a photo of the displayed Pay & Display receipt, if applicable]. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [ADDRESS] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
This template is for informational use only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Square-bracketed placeholders must be replaced with your specific facts. Rules and deadlines can change; if your situation is urgent, complicated, or high-stakes, email info@imfrustrated.org for a free conversation with a volunteer attorney before you send it.
how to submit it
A few things before you send.
- 1Read the ticket and note the ticket number, plate/registration number, violation code, date, time, and location.
- 2Within 21 days of the ticket's issuance, submit a dispute one of three ways: online via the Parking Ticket Appeal Form at boston.gov/tickets; by mail to City of Boston, P.O. Box 55800, Boston, MA 02205; or in person at the Office of the Parking Clerk, Room 224, Boston City Hall. Every method requires your name and mailing address, the nature of your dispute, your plate/registration number and state, the ticket number(s), and any supporting evidence (e.g. photos, receipts).
- 3Wait for a decision — the Parking Clerk's office typically responds to online and mailed disputes within 7 to 10 business days.
- 4If the dispute is denied, you must either pay the ticket within 10 days or call 617-635-4410 to request a formal administrative hearing before the expiration of the 21-day deadline from the ticket's issuance date (per the Traffic Rules and Regulations, this same 21-day statutory window under M.G.L. c.90 §20A½ governs the hearing request itself).
- 5A hearing request can be made in person at Room 224, by phone, by email, or by mail to City of Boston, P.O. Box 1626, Boston, MA 02105, and must include a brief description of the dispute, the plate/registration number, and the ticket number(s).
- 6The Parking Clerk's office mails written notice of the hearing's date, time, and place. The hearing itself is informal and the rules of evidence do not apply; the hearing officer keeps a record and issues a final written decision.
- 7While a timely hearing request is pending, the ticket is placed on "suspended" status and is not subject to further late penalties, booting, or registration/license non-renewal.
- 8If you disagree with the hearing officer's final decision, it is subject to judicial review under M.G.L. c.30A §14 (the Massachusetts Administrative Procedure Act).
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓A payment receipt or ParkBoston app transaction/session record showing the date, time, and location matching the ticket
- ✓A photo of the paid receipt as displayed on the curbside window or dashboard, if a Pay & Display receipt was issued
- ✓Confirmation that the plate number used for payment (Pay-by-Plate) matches your vehicle's plate
what Boston rules say
The rule this rests on.
City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Article IV, Sections 4–5 — Parking Meters; Multi-Space Meters (payment and receipt-display requirements)
City of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations, Art. IV §§ 4–5 (eff. Mar. 1, 2025)
The Traffic Rules and Regulations set the underlying payment/receipt-display obligations for both single-space and multi-space meters (Art. IV §§4–5); proof you satisfied that obligation for the ticketed time is the basis for disputing the violation. Boston's general appeal process (boston.gov/tickets, mail, or in person) is the channel for submitting this evidence — there is no separate numbered "valid payment" defense section distinct from the underlying payment-method rules.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If your initial dispute is denied, you must either pay the ticket within 10 days or call 617-635-4410 (or write to City of Boston, P.O. Box 1626, Boston, MA 02105) to request a formal administrative hearing before the 21-day deadline from the ticket's issuance date expires. While a timely hearing request is pending, the ticket is placed on "suspended" status and is not subject to further late penalties, booting, or registration/license non-renewal. If you disagree with the hearing officer's final written decision, it is subject to judicial review under M.G.L. c.30A §14 (the Massachusetts Administrative Procedure Act).
questions people ask
FAQ.
I paid but was ticketed for "Not in Metered Space" — does this defense still apply?
Yes. This defense covers any ticket issued despite valid payment — including "Meter Fee Unpaid," "Over Meter Limit," or "Not in Metered Space" — as long as your receipt or app record matches the ticketed time and location.
Does a ParkBoston app transaction record count as proof of payment?
Yes. A ParkBoston app transaction or session record showing the date, time, and location is treated the same as a muni-meter receipt for this dispute.
Is there a separate Boston code section specifically for "valid payment" disputes?
No. There's no numbered defense section distinct from the underlying payment rules — the dispute rests on the payment and receipt-display requirements in Art. IV §§4–5, submitted through Boston's general appeal process.
Nervous about sending it yourself?
we’ll read it over with you.
Email the situation and a volunteer attorney will respond. No commitment, no invoice, no judgment — just an honest second pair of eyes from someone who actually understands the law.
info@imfrustrated.org